Northern-Columbus Little League declared state champs after Peachtree City ruled ineligible

Northern-Columbus Little League declared state champs after Peachtree City ruled ineligible

Little League has ruled Peachtree City ineligible to represent the state at the Southeast Regional tournament in Warner Robins. Northern LL of Columbus, which lost to Peachtree City 12-1 in the state title game, will now represent Georgia.

Little League has ruled Peachtree City LL, winners of the state championship game last week, ineligible. There has been no explanation for the ruling, but a statement released by Little League said the organization's policy is to give ineligible titles to the second place team. That means Northern, a 12-1 loser to PTCLL in the state championship, will play in the region tournament in Peachtree City's place.

"An unprecedented and frankly shocking decision, Little League has deemed our 11/12 team ineligible on a technicality," said a post on PTCLL's Facebook page Friday morning. "We are researching all available remedies and will do whatever we can to try to get a better explanation."

Warner Robins American Little League, which fell to Peachtree City 5-4 in the state semifinals, felt it had as much right to represent the state as Northern. WRALL never played Northern in the state tourney. WRALL submitted appeals all the way to the headquarters in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, hoping for at least a playoff game against Northern, but all of those attempts were denied.

According to a statement from Little League, it's policy for the state runner-up to assume the title in the case the champion is ruled ineligible.